Beckham confronts fans after boos

[Samilktray]

+ I'd take Landon Donovan over Beckham now anyway.

[Koke]

+ I'd take Landon Donovan over Beckham now anyway.

I don't believe you.

Beckham can still hack it at a Champions League club. Donovan had a sting with Bayern Munich, he choked and decided to play it safe and return to MLS.

34 year old has-been Beckham > 27 year never-have-been Donovan

[Radovan's Caravan]

The 'spontaneous' jeering of DB has been carefully orchestrated by AEG (who know a little about manipulating public opinion) which is why it is getting wall to wall coverage (funny how they allowed his team mate Landon Donovan to give the low down on DB just as he returned from his European stint).

I was half expecting a very professionally produced banner with immaculate font's bearing the legend 'Cockney Mafioso Out' as a sort of west coast tribute to that other 'spontaneous' demonstration that is continually aired on Murdoch's TV channels.

[Tommeh]

He's 10 times bigger than that gash league. Hope he gets back over here where he belongs, at the top with the elite, playing the big stages and helping us in 2010.

He's already pushed the sport on for the Yanks so fairplay but I really wish he hadn't moved so early with so much still to give.

Oh and Landon Donovan

[Jordan]

Does anybody else appreciate the irony of the biggest bitch in sports having the audacity to challenge the manhood of a fan in the stands (and actually have that guy step up when called upon, unlike, you know, David Beckham in nearly every game in MLS)? You know what, David, just go die already.

As for bringing him back to England: James., Beckham wouldn't do a damn thing for Spurs outside of a few good corners and taking free kicks. He needs Kaka and Ambrosini doing all the work in the midfield so he can just stay on the wing and hit balls into the box all day. Actually, to come to think of it, I could really see Becks doing a good job for Chelsea. No, seriously, I do.

+ I'd take Landon Donovan over Beckham now anyway.

I think you're mad. Then again, I'm not a football club manager; I'm a fashion designer and I'm looking for a model to showcase this new line of men's underwear that we're putting out next year (preferably a guy with awful tattoos whose face is stuck in a permanent squint).

The 'spontaneous' jeering of DB has been carefully orchestrated by AEG (who know a little about manipulating public opinion) which is why it is getting wall to wall coverage (funny how they allowed his team mate Landon Donovan to give the low down on DB just as he returned from his European stint).

I was half expecting a very professionally produced banner with immaculate font's bearing the legend 'Cockney Mafioso Out' as a sort of west coast tribute to that other 'spontaneous' demonstration that is continually aired on Murdoch's TV channels.

Hey, R.C., you got a moment?

See, here's the deal with conspiracy theories: there's got to be something "in it" for the people that are pulling it off. Like, for example, the moon-landing-hoax theory? A way to pump up the country and psych out the Soviets. And I'm sure you could think of a million reasons why the American government would make Lee Harvey Oswald the scapegoat for the JFK assassination because the truth is just, whoa.

Your AEG astroturf thing, on the other hand ... it just makes no sense. Nobody likes Beckham here anymore. Nobody likes a crybaby. fook what you hear about all news is good news; bad press means a lot less tickets sold, a lot less merchandise sold, a lot less money. Instead of 60,000 teenage girls screaming like crazy for one night, there will be less than half those fans there with not nearly as much of them there to just see Beckham.

And you can blame the whole "convenient" timing of Donovan's comments on the not-AEG company that published The Beckham Experiment. I still haven't read the book outside of the excerpts, but those comments were all said in '07 and '08. I have a feeling that Crown (owned by Random House) decided to release the book now because this is when Beckham returned to America and this is when the biggest buzz will be created about the book. This wasn't orchestrated by some shady cabal; this is something that you, me and any twenty-something whom Random House hired just out of college that barely knows a thing about publishing sales could figure out.

But if you're really just making a joke about Fox News Channel and those idiot teabaggers, umm, while it is a correct, concise evaluation of those "protests," it has zero relevance to this thread. And anybody that is going to bother singing songs at a Galaxy game is more than likely a high-information fan that knows enough to hate AEG for signing Beckham (plus a few other moves that combined to ensure that the team would be crap for all of '07 and '08).

[Tilley]

Tommeh speak sense, Beckham is bigger than that whole league.

The MLS is shit. Full of crap ex-Prem players looking for a final pay check.

[Radovan's Caravan]

Does anybody else appreciate the irony of the biggest bitch in sports having the audacity to challenge the manhood of a fan in the stands (and actually have that guy step up when called upon, unlike, you know, David Beckham in nearly every game in MLS)? You know what, David, just go die already.

As for bringing him back to England: James., Beckham wouldn't do a damn thing for Spurs outside of a few good corners and taking free kicks. He needs Kaka and Ambrosini doing all the work in the midfield so he can just stay on the wing and hit balls into the box all day. Actually, to come to think of it, I could really see Becks doing a good job for Chelsea. No, seriously, I do.

I think you're mad. Then again, I'm not a football club manager; I'm a fashion designer and I'm looking for a model to showcase this new line of men's underwear that we're putting out next year (preferably a guy with awful tattoos whose face is stuck in a permanent squint).

Hey, R.C., you got a moment?

See, here's the deal with conspiracy theories: there's got to be something "in it" for the people that are pulling it off. Like, for example, the moon-landing-hoax theory? A way to pump up the country and psych out the Soviets. And I'm sure you could think of a million reasons why the American government would make Lee Harvey Oswald the scapegoat for the JFK assassination because the truth is just, whoa.

Your AEG astroturf thing, on the other hand ... it just makes no sense. Nobody likes Beckham here anymore. Nobody likes a crybaby. fook what you hear about all news is good news; bad press means a lot less tickets sold, a lot less merchandise sold, a lot less money. Instead of 60,000 teenage girls screaming like crazy for one night, there will be less than half those fans there with not nearly as much of them there to just see Beckham.

And you can blame the whole "convenient" timing of Donovan's comments on the not-AEG company that published The Beckham Experiment. I still haven't read the book outside of the excerpts, but those comments were all said in '07 and '08. I have a feeling that Crown (owned by Random House) decided to release the book now because this is when Beckham returned to America and this is when the biggest buzz will be created about the book. This wasn't orchestrated by some shady cabal; this is something that you, me and any twenty-something whom Random House hired just out of college that barely knows a thing about publishing sales could figure out.

But if you're really just making a joke about Fox News Channel and those idiot teabaggers, umm, while it is a correct, concise evaluation of those "protests," it has zero relevance to this thread. And anybody that is going to bother singing songs at a Galaxy game is more than likely a high-information fan that knows enough to hate AEG for signing Beckham (plus a few other moves that combined to ensure that the team would be crap for all of '07 and '08).

Make up your mind Jordan, either you believe those protests were organic/spontaneous or they were manufactured.

AEG want rid of Beckham (as does MLS). There's nothing difficult to understand here. They are deliberately making things hot for him so they can cut their losses (that's why they gave the nod to LD's book).

As for your rationalisations of the Moon Landings hoax and JFK's assassination they are vague. Re. the former: 'Psyche out the Soviets'? To do what exactly? There is a much more obvious reason why this semi official inspired nonsense has gained traction - to turn the American public against spending on the space programme.

As for JFK... In the old days when I lived in a country called Yugoslavia we had a saying: 'Washington is London's little finger nail.' I never really understood the significance of that aphorism until about 20 years ago.

And just as London smashed my country to pieces they could just as easily scatter yours to the four winds.

[ozleicester]

Sign him up Nige !

[James.]

As for bringing him back to England: James., Beckham wouldn't do a damn thing for Spurs outside of a few good corners and taking free kicks. He needs Kaka and Ambrosini doing all the work in the midfield so he can just stay on the wing and hit balls into the box all day. Actually, to come to think of it, I could really see Becks doing a good job for Chelsea. No, seriously, I do.

The reason I mentioned Spurs was because there are rumours linking him with them, he is a London boy originally and he would probably work well with Redknapp. I also think he could be of great benefit to that club, they have a lot of younger players, he'd have 1 or 2 seasons of decent quality left in him and then would be a valuable asset off the pitch in terms of coaching, player development and, of course, marketing.

Anyway, I'm only really bothered about him getting out of that rubbish league and back where he belongs, pushing for involvement in the World Cup next year.

[Jon the Hat]

Clearly AEG are trying to make Beckham the bad guy so when they cut their losses in October or before they can shrug and say they wanted him to stay etc.

Beckham made a decision based on the information he had at the time. A new England manager told him his international career was over, and he was on the way out at Madrid. Things changed, and people condemn him for having more motivaiton to play for England that LA Galaxy? Seriously? I am glad to see he wants to play for his country this much. He has loyalty to England above that to his club. Good on him. I hope he finds a way to get back to Milan for the start of the season. He is going to be a key part of the squad in South Africa. What energy and passion to have to bring on an quarter final when things are looking dicey. You just don't get that with someone like David Bentley.

[haraven]

For the first time that I know of Americans are starting to act like European fans. They've put away their Mickey Mouse club hats with beer-containers and family-tradition out and yelled a few quite normal reactions that any European fan would do.

Beckham's choice to go play in the USA was in my view the wrong one, especially for his career. If it was to kick-start the missus singing career again, it makes sense - but for him it was a disaster. However, if we look at it this way: Probably more fun living in an English speaking language with celebrities and posh dinners than Berlusconi's pasta madness wimp country.

Beckham is still a great footballer. I would love to have him in my national team, he fights for his country and you can tell he really wants to be there - which is a stark opposition to quite a few other world-class footballers. He would make it into most PL teams first line up, if not all of them still.

Don't feel sorry for him at all, but it is a bit sad that such a good footballer "ended up" like this.

[MC Prussian]

That was hardly a confrontation, Beckham was simply facing a normal fans' reaction.

You can't blame the fans for being disappointed, but blame Beckham for not putting in enough effort.

Well, he's close to finishing his active playing career, anyway.

[Darkzzz_]

I personally wouldn't take Donovan over Beckham, there are many people that would agree and disagree for that matter. We all know the money issue which surrounded the move out there but I would rather see Beckham playing in Europe because I am still of the opinion that he has plenty to offer, his stint at Milan shown that he can still cut it, he should retire over here for sure.

[Kilworthfox]

What Hairy and Burnham said.

+ I'd take Landon Donovan over Beckham now anyway.

[whitlock]

"Beckham is now being replaced by the former Brighton man, Chris Birchall"

[dandannieldanok]

Tommeh speak sense, Beckham is bigger than that whole league.

The MLS is shit. Full of crap ex-Prem players looking for a final pay check.

Just like David Beckham then. Beckham is a greedy leech, even though the MLS is shit the contempt he's shown the league, his club and his fans is quite unbelievable given the wages he's on.

[BoneDog]

If this model/footballer gets more caps for England than Shilton I'm moving to Llandudno

[AyewJoking]

Has Becks actually apologised to LA Galaxy???

He should just admit to being a judas and it will soon blow over.

[Jordan]

Make up your mind Jordan, either you believe those protests were organic/spontaneous or they were manufactured.

etc.

1) I made it pretty clear about whether or not the fan protests are organic.

2) I assumed it'd be clear that my conspiracy theory example bit was to be taken with a little bit of jest.

3) You've made it pretty clear to me that you're a bit of an odd character.

[Radovan's Caravan]

1) I made it pretty clear about whether or not the fan protests are organic.

2) I assumed it'd be clear that my conspiracy theory example bit was to be taken with a little bit of jest.

3) You've made it pretty clear to me that you're a bit of an odd character.

And it's pretty clear to me you that were unaware of the contradiction at the centre of your post until I pointed it out. And the fact that you still won't give me a straight yes or no shows that you are an evasive little so and so...

who covers up his intellectual inadequacies with cheap conspiracy theory taunts.

[Jordan]

And it's pretty clear to me you that were unaware of the contradiction at the centre of your post until I pointed it out. And the fact that you still won't give me a straight yes or no shows that you are an evasive little so and so...

who covers up his intellectual inadequacies with cheap conspiracy theory taunts.

There is no contradiction anywhere.

I said your conspiracy theory makes no sense. I added at the end that Galaxy fans' anger is organic and not fueled by astroturfing. I went as far as to say that they're probably also quite upset with AEG for this Beckham fiasco. AEG isn't telling them to jump and getting, "How high?" in response. Besides, treating your franchise's most valuable asset like shit does not make good business sense. If MLS will sell Beckham (that's very much likely), why would they and AEG lower his price tag?

Those tea parties you referred to earlier? Yes; those are the hilariously unorganic demonstrations masterminded and bankrolled by Fox News Channel and the GOP to exploit angry, gullible conservatives who feel betrayed. That sentence you boldfaced had nothing to do with Galaxy fans. As a whole, the only two things the Riot Squad has in common with that demographic are feelings of anger and betrayal. Sort of like how apples and oranges have the whole being-a-fruit thing in common, but besides that, they're very much different. Or, better yet, posts in this thread that have some sort of substantial contribution to the discussion of this topic and your posts because yours kind of touch on the matter but take a wrong turn somewhere only to get lost in Crazy Land (and now mine, thanks to you).

Please don't make me write this same post for a third time.

So ... back to the topic at hand: Beckham. Galaxy fans. They don't like each other. Discuss.

[BoneDog]

If we had a player who's acted like Beckham has there would be no need to manufacture a protest cos everyone would be unhappy and would let the player know for sure.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Good on the fans for having a crack.

[Radovan's Caravan]

There is no contradiction anywhere.

I said your conspiracy theory makes no sense. I added at the end that Galaxy fans' anger is organic and not fueled by astroturfing. I went as far as to say that they're probably also quite upset with AEG for this Beckham fiasco. AEG isn't telling them to jump and getting, "How high?" in response. ]Besides, treating your franchise's most valuable asset like shit does not make good business sense. If MLS will sell Beckham (that's very much likely), why would they and AEG lower his price tag?

Those tea parties you referred to earlier? Yes; those are the hilariously unorganic demonstrations masterminded and bankrolled by Fox News Channel and the GOP to exploit angry, gullible conservatives who feel betrayed. That sentence you boldfaced had nothing to do with Galaxy fans. As a whole, the only two things the Riot Squad has in common with that demographic are feelings of anger and betrayal. Sort of like how apples and oranges have the whole being-a-fruit thing in common, but besides that, they're very much different. Or, better yet, posts in this thread that have some sort of substantial contribution to the discussion of this topic and your posts because yours kind of touch on the matter but take a wrong turn somewhere only to get lost in Crazy Land (and now mine, thanks to you).

Please don't make me write this same post for a third time.

So ... back to the topic at hand: Beckham. Galaxy fans. They don't like each other. Discuss.

It would help a lot if you expressed yourself more prosiacally and a little less like Kerouac on a bad trip. That you can do something about. Unfortunately there is little in the short term at least that can be done for your crushing naivete.

Are you seriously suggesting that it is improbable that the 'Riot Squad', a broad west coast equivalent of European/Latin American Ultra's could be manipulated by those with a financial/professional interest in LA Galaxy? Perhaps you are in need of a little Cultural Histroy 101 my friend. Modern football Ultra's are the living descendents of the Paris/London mobs that set the genteel classes a trembling in the days before universal suffrage and public sector deficits.

And are you also suggesting that it is somehow paranoic to think that a fan banned from the HDC managed to find himself in a prime position inside the stadium to abuse Beckham, vault a barrier and give a TV interview after getting a little bit of help on the inside?

And all because you wouldn't 'go figure' (as your beatnik mentor might have put it) that DB might not be a 'valuable asset' but a walking, talking financial black hole. OK let's do a little Economics and Accounting 101.

Beckham has just a little under 3 years of his Galaxy contract left to run - thats anything up to $15 million in straight club salary and bonuses. But as we all know, that's the chump change in the deal. On top of that come the ticket income shares, image rights, sponsorships etc. Over the remainder of his contract all that could come to $150 million (even Ronaldo at Real Madrid is unlikely to earn as much)

For a variety of reasons (some of which have already been speculated on), this could be a rather big hit for AEG and their partners in project Beckham. Under normal economic circumstances they might be prepared to limp through with DB to the bitter end. Unfortunately, economc circumstances are not normal. Worse, the deal AEG made with Beckham was over generous and littered with all kinds of financial guarantees.

AND WORSE STILL, BECKHAM HONOURED HIS PROMISE TO RETURN AFTER HIS LOAN SPELL AT MILAN.

Faced with all this, what's a dirty corporation to do? Why, get out the corporate dirty tricks manual of course! And there's about as much conspiracy in that as a player maiming his opponent and claiming he was going for the ball.

No, my jejeune friend (an adjective Jack would not have used but it is in the Oxford English Dictionary) the conspiracy here would be if all this was a wizard wheeze dreamt up by DB's team (a subtle improvisation on the 'alcohol on my breath in training' routine) to get him back into the EPL with current world beaters Spurs.

This scheme may well have included implanting false memories in Landon Donavan about that restauarant bill

[Jordan]

I never argued with you that AEG might want to sell Beckham (although adidas et al. might make this divorce more difficult, not less, as I don't think they're quite ready to make Jozy Altidore the face of their American soccer marketing campaign). So, once again, I'm just saying that the fans' animosity towards Beckham is something they've created entirely of their own volition and that if AEG/MLS want rid of Beckham, it's not a smart thing for them to gather people around their product and call it a piece of shit. I'm not typing this again. AEG is taking a financial hit, of course, but they've got a team, a stadium and money--if they want to sign a big name in the future, they'd be wise not to make their franchise and their organization seem like a bunch of backstabbers.

All your argument contains are presumptions about how underhanded AEG will behave, all this other stuff I already know, some crazy shit about the specter of a British assault haunting the United States and stuff about beatniks (about which I can only roll my eyes). All because of a rather jocular critique of your "conspiracy theory?" Please. And I don't need lessons on style from someone who writes in an excruciatingly pompous tone. Lighten up a bit. Let's not make this a last-post-wins contest.

---

Here's a hypothetical situation for us to ponder: let's say all parties agree to the same Rent-a-Beckham plan as this year, where Becks goes to Milan on loan in January and stays for the rest of the season. This, of course, postpones any possible permanent sale of Beckham from LA to another club. Capello calls Beckham into the England squad, and he stays with them all the way through South Africa 2010, England do well and it's a nice little boost for Beckham's image.

With his England career over after this, what would David Beckham do? He's not going to need to play in Europe anymore if the paycheck is bigger elsewhere. The worldwide economy could see the beginnings of recovery before then, and if he, MLS and another club can't agree on a transfer, why not come back and finish out his career in the U.S., where he already knows how much money he'll be making? Is it possible that this troublesome "Beckham Experiment" in LA could have a happy ending? Or do you think this has absolutely no chance at happening?